Audit chances are small, but you can’t risk a data breach

Why worry about a healthcare audit? I can give you 15 million reasons, as in the nearly $15 million in settlement payments the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) has agreed to with covered entities and their business associates during the first six months of 2016.

The federal agency charged with investigating data breaches and HIPAA violations has been busy recently. In July alone, the OCR settled with two health systems for a combined $5.5 million in the aftermath of data breaches involving a total of 13,000 patient records. It also announced the next phase of audits for 167 providers, health plans, clearinghouses and their business associates.